BFI Flare has just revealed its massive line-up for 2026 – here are the best films to see this year

One of the longest-standing and largest queer film festivals, BFI Flare celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2026. The springtime film bonanza at the BFI’s South Bank home is a major calendar fixture for London’s queer communities and cinephiles alike, and with exactly one month to go until the 2026 edition of the festival kicks off, the line-up has just been revealed.

Film buffs attending this year’s edition of Flare will be able to catch 31 world premieres among the 65 feature films and 62 shorts on the programme, alongside a stellar curation of classic queer cinema, and the usual programme of talks, workshops, exhibitions and DJ nights that make the BFI Southbank such a buzzy place to be during the festival. 

The BFI Flare 2026 Line-Up

Opening Night Film 

As previously announced, the 40th edition of Flare will open with the world premiere of American documentary maker Jennifer Kroot’s riotous new film Hunky Jesus, which follows social justice movement the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence as they prepare to host their legendary annual Easter Sunday drag contest in San Francisco. Alongside the premiere, long-serving member Sister Roma will be present for a talk exploring the ‘sistory’ and impact of the movement alongside UK chapter members.

Special Presentation

Taking place halfway through the festival, the Special Presentation for Flare 2026 is Kiwi director Paloma Schneideman’s ‘tender, unflinching’ coming of age drama Big Girls Don’t Cry, following 14-year-old Sid (played by newcomer Ani Palmer) over one transformative summer in the early 2000s.

Closing Night Film

Closing out the festival is South African director Sandulela Asanda’s warm-hearted feature debut, Black Burns Fast, following nerdy student Luthando through her sexual awakening at a prestigious boarding school. 

Programme strands

As usual, the majority of Flare’s programme will be divided feature three major strands, Hearts (spotlighting films about love, romance and friendship), Bodies (about sex, identity and transformation), and Minds (focusing on art, politics and community). 

Highlights of the Hearts strand include the world premiere of Madfabulous, Welsh director Celyn Jones’s quirky period drama based on the life of irreverent socialite Henry Cyril Paget, the fifth Marquess of Anglesey, starring It’s A Sin’s Callum Scott Howells, and Brazilian film I Am Going to Miss You, a touching T4T romantic drama featuring an all trans cast.

Films to look out for in the Bodies strand include Sze-Wei Chan’s illuminating deep-dive into South Asian ballroom culture, 10s Across The Borders, and Stud Life director Campbell X’s long-awaited second feature Low Rider.

And big hitters in the Minds strand include Barbara Forever, NYC documentary maker Brydie O’Connor’s portrait of trailblazing photographer Barbara Hammer, and Rowan Haber’s uproarious documentary We Are Pat, examining Julia Sweeney’s androgynous character from 90s-era SNL. 

But that’s not all! New for 2026, in celebration of the festival’s big birthday, there’ll also be a fourth strand, Treasures, revisiting queer classics from across the decades, including canonical films like landmark queer art film Pink Narcissus and African-American director Cheryl Dunye’s pioneering feature film The Watermelon Woman. 

Screen talks, exhibitions and additional events

As always, Flare 2026 will see the BFI Southbank hosting all manner of talks, workshops and exhibitions delving into the history of queer cinema and the practices of some of the venue’s favourite writers and directors.

Highlights of the 2026 programme include a Screen Talk with Russell T Davies, the legendary writer behind Queer As Folk and It’s A Sin, and Heartstopper Forever!, a talk with the writer Alice Oseman and executive producer Patrick Walters exploring the creative journey behind the groundbreaking Netflix series.

There’ll also be a variety of excellent free events, including panel talks on adapting books for the screen and film restoration, community stalls from local LGBTQIA+ groups and a special exhibition on 40 Years of BFI Flare down the road at King’s Cross museum Queer Britain, plus DJ nights soundtracked by queer club nights including Fèmmme Fraîche and Club Kali.

Told you the schedule was packed! Keen to nab some tickets before they all sell out? Get an alarm set for 10am next Thursday February 26, when tickets go on general sale, or treat yourself to a BFI Membership for early access from 10am on Tuesday February 24. 

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